ch's Aw

s he had only glimpsed during his transformations. The faint gold glow in his eyes illuminated the room just enough

her hands. "Aiden... I think we

ook away. The whispers of the book had grown louder, shifting from i

ed. Son of the Holl

gging at his veins. The faint pulse at his arm-the mark-burned fiercely. He gritted his teeth

Pages flipped on their own, stopping on

must face the progenitor. Only in bloo

Evelyn's flashlight. Darkness pressed close, and the w

e home,

m-not in hunger, but in recognition. He was not alone. The ai

alf-human, half-wolf, translucent yet terrifyingly real. Her eyes bur

ragging through his skull like chains. "I have wa

lly. His heart thudded in tandem with the pulse of the chamber, th

e felt. "I'm a man-a detective. I protect people, not... thi

is in your veins. It flows through your bloodline. Your f

rowled. He didn't know if it wa

ght. Only through struggle will you awaken. Only thr

from the ceiling, jars clattered to the flo

o go-now!"

curse, or face the witch and unlock the truth buried in his blood. The

symbols rising from the pages like fire. Whispers filled the chamber-thous

ed. "Show me the curs

nd suddenly the chamber

ver moons, a pact sealed in blood. He saw his father, young and defiant, attempting to end the curse with a ritual. He saw th

im. His wolf surged forward in recognition, howling into the

through the vision. "A

m solidified again. "Now you understand. You cannot fight

like them!" he sh

ill die," sh

ilver light in every direction. Shadows swirled, twisting into forms-wolve

im as his wolf form surged against him, trying to take control. He fel

elyn yelled. "F

eance. He felt rage, hunger, fear, grief-every primal emoti

lammed his fists onto the floor. The silver light re

ssed, a note of respect-or p

rowled. "I am n

dissolved. Mara's form flickered

w will test you at every turn. Your father... he tried to destroy i

from me?" Aiden dem

The curse will call your enemies soon. The pack is r

in the chamber as she

es its heir. Choose wi

nt. Evelyn looked at h

t just happen

ow. But I know one thing... the pack isn't waiting

lowly. "Then we

rrored in her eyes. For a moment, the wolf in

her," h

nt except for the rustle of leaves. Aiden's senses picked up more than he intende

uttered, voice low. "C

we prepare. But how do you figh

is pulse quickened. The wolf within

," he said final

strength without losing his humanity, how to track and hunt, how to move silently through the forests while feeling every heartb

, testing limits, howling into the night. He learned to control hunger,

The Hollow will test you. The pack is r

in the distance, h

f-its amber eyes glowing faintly gold. As he approached

eir of the Hollow. Come with us, or

e felt the wolf inside s

th, teeth elongating: "I cho

t. But Aiden knew it wouldn't be the

e hands were steady, her f

y the beginni

e sure we're rea

rest in crimson and silver. The Hollow was awake. The he